Regional Geography – NDA Geography PYQs

Practice NDA Geography previous-year questions with detailed solutions and explanations.

Chapter-wise PYQs • Concept-based explanations • Exam insights

NDA 2019-II

Q. 1. A Conurbation is defined as:

(a) A large city with more than 5 million population

(b) An area where several towns have grown together to form a large urban centre

(d) A planned city built from scratch

Answer: (b) An area where several towns have grown together to form a large urban centre

Explanation: A Conurbation is a large urban area formed when several towns or cities expand and grow together, merging into a single continuous urban area. The term was coined by Patrick Geddes in 1915. Examples: Ruhr conurbation: Germany’s heavily industrialised area of merging cities (Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, etc.). West Midlands conurbation: UK (Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, etc.). A conurbation is distinct from a megalopolis (which is a chain of metropolitan areas that are adjacent but may not have fully merged).
Concept Tested: Conurbation: several towns/cities grow together to form one continuous urban area; coined by Patrick Geddes

NDA 2018-I

Q. 2. Infant mortality rate is defined as:

(a) Number of deaths per 1000 live births, under the age of five

(b) Number of deaths per 1000 births, including stillbirths

(d) Number of deaths per 1000 live births, under the age of two

Answer: (c) Number of deaths per 1000 live births, under the age of one

Explanation: The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is defined as the number of deaths of children under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. IMR is a key indicator of a country’s healthcare quality, sanitation, and overall development level. Countries with low IMR (like Japan, Sweden, Norway: below 3 per 1,000) have highly developed healthcare systems. Countries with high IMR (some Sub-Saharan African countries: above 50–60 per 1,000) reflect poor healthcare access. Note: Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) measures deaths under 5 years: different from IMR.
Concept Tested: IMR (Infant Mortality Rate): deaths per 1,000 live births under age 1 (NOT under 5, NOT including stillbirths)

NDA 2017-II

Q. 3. Which one of the following regions has the highest level of urbanisation?

(a) North America

(b) Latin America

(d) Asia

Answer: (a) North America

Explanation: North America has the highest level of urbanisation globally: approximately 82–83% of its population lives in urban areas (UN data). Urbanisation rates by region (approximate): North America ~82%. Latin America and Caribbean ~81%. Europe ~75%. Oceania ~68%. Asia ~52%. Africa ~44%. North America has the highest urbanisation rate due to highly industrialised economies, large cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto), and historical rural-to-urban migration patterns.
Concept Tested: Highest urbanisation: North America (~82%); followed by Latin America, then Europe; Asia and Africa are less urbanised

NDA 2016-I

Q. 4. A Megalopolis is:

(a) A city with more than 10 million population

(b) A chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas

(d) The biggest city of a country

Answer: (b) A chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas

Explanation: A Megalopolis (coined by Jean Gottmann, 1961) is a chain of closely connected, overlapping metropolitan areas forming a continuous urban corridor. The term was first used to describe the chain of cities along the northeastern USA: Boston-New York-Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington D.C. (BosWash). Other megalopolises: Tokyo-Yokohama-Osaka corridor (Japan), Chicago-Pittsburgh (US), London-Manchester (UK). A Megalopolis differs from a single megacity (>10 million people): it is the joining of multiple metropolitan areas.
Concept Tested: Megalopolis: chain of adjacent metropolitan areas forming continuous urban corridor; coined by Jean Gottmann

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Urban settlement hierarchy for NDA: Village → Town → City → Metropolitan Area → Conurbation (two or more towns/cities merge) → Megalopolis (chain of metropolitan areas). Megacity = city with >10 million people (e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Tokyo, Shanghai). Conurbation = merging of two or more urban settlements (e.g., Ruhr conurbation in Germany). Metropolis = large dominant city serving a wide region.

NDA 2015-II

Q. 5. Which one of the following regions has the highest population density in the world?

(a) River plains and deltas of South and South-East Asia

(b) Interior of Africa

(d) Interior of Australia

Answer: (a) River plains and deltas of South and South-East Asia

Explanation: The river plains and deltas of South and South-East Asia have the world’s highest population densities. This region includes the Indo-Gangetic Plain (India, Bangladesh), the Brahmaputra valley, the Mekong delta (Vietnam), the Yangtze basin (China), and other major river systems. Reasons for high population density:
1. Fertile alluvial soils support intensive agriculture.
2. Perennial rivers provide water for irrigation.
3. Historical settlement: civilisations developed along these rivers millennia ago.
4. Flat terrain: easy for agriculture, transport, and habitation. Bangladesh (Ganges-Brahmaputra delta) is one of the world’s most densely populated countries.
Concept Tested: Highest population density: river plains and deltas of South and South-East Asia; fertile soil and water for agriculture

NDA 2014-II

Q. 6. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index of:

(a) Per capita income, gender equality, literacy

(b) Infant mortality, fertility rate, life expectancy

(d) Poverty index, gender development index, human poverty index

Answer: (c) Per capita income, life expectancy at birth, and level of education

Explanation: The Human Development Index (HDI) was developed by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and is published annually in the Human Development Report. It is a composite index of three dimensions:
1. Health: measured by life expectancy at birth.
2. Education: measured by mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling.
3. Standard of living: measured by per capita Gross National Income (GNI) in PPP terms. HDI ranges from 0 to 1. Countries are ranked as Very High, High, Medium, or Low Human Development.
Concept Tested: HDI: three components: life expectancy at birth, education (schooling years), per capita income (GNI PPP)

NDA 2012-I

Q. 7. In which stage of the demographic transition does population explosion occur?

(a) Stage 1

(b) Stage 2

(d) Stage 4

Answer: (b) Stage 2

Explanation: The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) describes how population changes as a country develops economically:
Stage 1: High birth rate + High death rate → Low, stable population (pre-industrial).
Stage 2: High birth rate + FALLING death rate → POPULATION EXPLOSION (improving medicine and sanitation reduce deaths while births remain high). Most of today’s developing countries have been through or are in Stage 2.
Stage 3: Falling birth rate + Low death rate → Population growth slows.
Stage 4: Low birth rate + Low death rate → Low, stable population (post-industrial). The population explosion occurs in Stage 2: when death rates fall rapidly due to improved healthcare but birth rates are still high.
Concept Tested: Demographic transition Stage 2: high births + falling deaths = population explosion; gap between birth and death rates

NDA 2010-I

Q. 8. Which one of the following countries has the largest population in the world?

(a) China

(b) India

(d) Russia

Answer: (a) China

Explanation: At the time of NDA 2010-I (and for most of the preceding decades), China was the world’s most populous country with approximately 1.34 billion people. Note: In 2023, India overtook China to become the world’s most populous country (UN World Population Prospects 2023). As of August 2026, India is the most populous country. For NDA questions up to approximately 2022, the answer would be China. For questions from 2023 onward, the answer would be India. Students should check the year of the specific NDA paper and use the appropriate answer.
Concept Tested: Most populous country: China (for NDA papers up to ~2022); India surpassed China in 2023

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Population ranking update for NDA (important for recent papers): Until 2022: China = most populous (#1); India was ranked
2. From 2023 onward: India is the most populous (1); China is now at 2.
The NDA exam year determines the correct answer. Source answer (a): China is from NDA 2010-I.